Rescued by a Bridesmaid

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first—*chocolate heiress hunts groom in the jungle*? But Melinda Curtis pulls it off with such infectious energy that I was hooked by Chapter 2. Scarlet isn’t just a fish out of water; she’s a *piranha* in a tiara, and Wilson’s narration sells every beat of her transformation from pampered socialite to mud-streaked problem-solver. The real standout? The banter. Scarlet’s back-and-forth with the gruff, no-nonsense guide (who, of course, has a heart of gold buried under layers of flannel) is *chef’s kiss*—sharp, snappy, and delivered with Wilson’s impeccable comic timing. I actually laughed out loud during the “chocolate as currency” negotiation scene, which is rare for me. That said, the breakneck pacing occasionally trips over itself. The Ecuadorian setting feels more like a vibrant backdrop than a fully fleshed-out world—some local characters verge on caricature, and the cultural details are broad strokes rather than fine brushwork. And while the 2h20m runtime is refreshing for a romance, the rushed third act means the emotional payoff for the couple’s bond gets shortchanged. Still, the audio production is crisp, Wilson’s character voices are distinct (no small feat in a cast this quirky), and the sheer *fun* of the story carries it. If you’re craving a rom-com that’s more *adventure* than *angst*, this is your golden ticket—just don’t expect deep introspection between the tarantula encounters and wedding-planning meltdowns.